“Your turn, Trouble.” He smirks. “Work your magic.”
So, I do.
Ten in the morning comes a lot faster than it should and we’re piling into limos on the way to breakfast.
Everyone was sensible enough to bring a change of clothes, but everything else is left over from the night before.
We walk inside and a smile lights up my face as I look around.
Ransom and I made no fancy plans. All we did was book the restaurant we like to walk down to after a long night’s work, but I knew when my sister said Cali convinced her husband she needed two extra days here, and prior to the wedding, they had something up their sleeves.
The entire country beach vibe of the place is hidden behind sheets of white silk and red rose vine garlands. They hang from the ceiling all throughout and in the hallway down the walls, lights entwined within them.
The tails are covered in black cloths and golden place settings are placed perfectly in front of each chair.
I chuckle when my eyes lift to the back wall and a golden J and R hangs in the center... an A and B smaller and off to the side, as a little joke, I’m sure.
And it’s perfect.
Because we wouldn’t be anything without them.
They were just as much a part of our journey as we were, if not the reason for it all.
Arsen and Beretta pushed us, tested us, and refused to allow us to hide from what we were capable of.
I think Ransom and I would have found each other either way, but it would have been different, and I would never wish that.
I love us the way we are, and I love the steps it took us to get here, in a room full of people of our choosing, in our timing.
“I thought you might like that.”
My muscles tense.
Okay, this is unexpected.
Slowly, I spin around, finding my mom and stepdad standing at the back left corner.
In her finest pantsuit and gold bangles, my mother walks toward me.
“Jeans, wow.” She smiles.
A laugh leaves me and I nod, stepping in and hugging her even though she didn’t try for one. I don’t clench her tight but I do allow both my arms to wrap around her briefly before stepping back, a chest now right behind me. “I know, who knew they were so comfortable.”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you in jeans.”
I grin. “You haven’t.” It wasn’t allowed.
She tips her head, a low sigh leaving her. “Your sister showed me some photos from last night.”
I nod, waiting for the passive-aggressive compliment of my dress of choice, location of choice etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...
But dare I say, there is a small hint of pride in her eyes.
Before she’s forced to say something that isn’t natural to her, I reach out and touch her bicep.
“Thanks, mom. And thank you for being here.”
She nods once more and begins to walk away, but something holds her in her spot, and she looks over her shoulder. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there last night I... well.” She clears her throat and I nod.
I know what she was going to say.
She couldn’t be there to watch me get married because she had to work.
When I was younger, I never thought I cared about her workaholic ways, but after everything with Anthony, I realized I was bitter about it, and now that I’m older, settled into my own life, I no longer care. I don’t hold it against her, not how she was then or how she continues to be.
My mom is who she is and that’s that. Work has and will always come first, period.
It’s not sad or disgusting or any other word I may have used once, or others may think but not say. It’s simply reality. I no longer judge her for who she is, I can’t and don’t fault her for it. I’m simply happy Ransom helped me to realize what I wanted was far from what I had.
I wanted a home where the people within it are more important than the means that placed us inside of it, and that’s exactly what I have.
That’s the life we’ve built here, one where any and all other things, no matter what, come second to the people we love.
Ransom is my number one, the boys and Sienna right behind, and the most recent addition, Monti.
She still comes and goes but I’ve got a sneaky suspicion she won’t be going all that often anymore, if at all.
Speaking of Monti...
She slips up, rescuing me from the awkward moment with my mom, directing her and our stepdad to an open seat.
I let my back fall to Ransom’s chest as his arms come around me and when I look up, his lips lower, slowly meeting mine for a quick kiss.
“You okay, baby?”
I smile against his mouth, spinning in his arms and hugging him to me. I nod. “I didn’t think she’d make it.”
“Me either.” He tucks my hair behind my ear, meeting my eyes. “But I’m glad she did.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, looking from where my mom sits beside Arsen to my stepdad, who is leaning over the table asking Beretta about the work he did on our property. “Me too.”
Ransom shifts, looking to the right and my gaze follows.
Our employees take up the majority of the tables, a mix of vivacious college students and punk princes and princesses.
Sienna’s laugh pulls our eyes her way and Ransom’s chest inflates against mine.
“I’m starting to wonder if Arsen knew what he was doing when he talked you into letting Liam care for her as part of his extern hours.” I smile at Sienna and Arsen’s foster brother, who snags a blueberry off the fruit tray on the table and gently places it between her lips.
“She’s been able to feed herself for nearly four years now,” he pouts.
I look up, laughing at the fake annoyance on his face.
He’s beyond happy she has someone who seems to enjoy her as much as we do.
I know it’s scary for him, to see her look at someone the way she looks at Liam and not know where it will go, if anywhere, but again, maybe Arsen knew what he was doing. I like to think he did.
Liam’s been her day nurse for five months now, and it’s been weeks since we’ve seen his car leave after his shift.
Ransom and I join the others, indulge in way too much food, and spend hours we didn’t know we’d manage to stay awake for laughing and chatting with our friends.
As my mother readies to leave, she comes to stand opposite of our chairs, and lowers a rectangular white box in front of me.
“Oh, shit. Another box,” Beretta whispers, not so quietly and my mother actually laughs.
My eyes widen in surprise and she clears her throat, making me chuckle.
“Open it,” she instructs.
So, I lift the top, unveiling a golden key chain, but this time it’s not just a J hanging from its end. There is a single, dangling, heart-shaped diamond that glistens from the shine of what’s draped beside it. With the lengths of each varying the slightest bit, there are three letters, one representing Ransom, and two more, a fraction smaller for Beretta and Arsen.
Moisture stings at the backs of my eyes and I lift my gaze to meet my mom’s.
“You’re the diamond, and they’re the reason for which you shine.” Her voice cracks the slightest bit, and I offer a small smile.
“It’s beautiful, Mom, thank you.” I pull the item from its box, gently placing it in my palm for an even closer look, and I hold still when her hand falls over mine, squeezing.